This Free Typeface Fights Bullying By Instantly Blurring & Rewording Hate Speech
Image courtesy of The Polite Type
Cyberbullying is so rampant, those at the receiving end of it are often asked to “suck it up” as it is “normal.” It’s probably this passivity that empowers bullies or makes them feel like there is little wrong with attacking a stranger online.
A new typeface called ‘The Polite Type’ sets out to finally disparage online toxicity by blurring or rewriting words known to hurt or humiliate people. Created by IT software company TietoEVRY and advertising agency TBWA\ Helsinki, along with input from Finnish teenagers, the font is trained to recognize hate speech and replace it, either by blurring it out or swapping harmful text with more inclusive ones.
Image courtesy of The Polite Type
Image courtesy of The Polite Type
It’s essential to start countering this global issue as, according to a UNESCO study in 2019, more than a third of bullying between youths occurs online. This number would have risen by now, as the world relies on virtual processes as the new norm.
The Polite Type isn’t merely a censorship tool. It aims to educate people who have been institutionalized to believe that cyberbullying is the norm and therefore acceptable, as well as offer solutions on how to address online bullying, which is nearly impossible to always monitor.
“The Polite Type supports our vision of creating a safe and equal environment with digital solutions,” said Kia Haring, TieroEVRY’s global head of communication and sustainability. “I hope that our cause acts as a wake-up call for all audiences to consider how bullying could be tackled.”
Mikko Pietilä, Executive Creative Director of TBWA\Helsinki, described, “We wanted to create a tool to remind people that being polite and respectful should be the default option both online and offline.”
At launch, the typeface—in its beta version—can recognize nearly 2,000 English words.
Pietilä added, “The Polite Type is still far from being a finalized product and alone will not solve the problem, we know that, but it’s a start. We believe that leading by example encourages others to join the cause.”
The Polite Type is a free and open-source resource, and can be worked upon for free by interested developers or organizations. Download and try it out here.
Image courtesy of The Polite Type
Image courtesy of The Polite Type
[via The Polite Type]
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